THE City Council on Wednesday referred back the cockpit proposal of City Councilor Lyndon Acap to the Committee on Rules for possible redefining of provisions and corrections to the proposed ordinance.

Councilor Jose Espinosa III said the Acap proposal should not ask for a license or permit to operate a cockpit in the district of Mandurriao but should be asking for a cockpit franchise for operator Marjorie Maraņon and not for the Mandurriao Cockpit Association, which has no juridical personality.

Espinosa said the City Government is empowered by the local government code to grant a regulated and specific franchise for only two franchisees on cockpit operation in a local government unit like Iloilo City.

The first cockpit franchise was already granted to Chito Tinsay of the Jaro Coliseum several years back and the second one will be granted exclusively to only one applicant. The franchise is also specific in the period of time for such grant in an existing population of 100,000.

Espinosa said a decision of the Supreme Court (SC) already confirmed the Philippine Cockfighting Law and if granted to applicant Maraņon, there is no more chance for other cockpit applicants to get a franchise.

Acap said he is positive the City Council will finally approve next week his proposal to have another cockpit operating legally in the district of Mandurriao. (Lydia C. Pendon

THE City Council on Wednesday referred back the cockpit proposal of City Councilor Lyndon Acap to the Committee on Rules for possible redefining of provisions and corrections to the proposed ordinance.

Councilor Jose Espinosa III said the Acap proposal should not ask for a license or permit to operate a cockpit in the district of Mandurriao but should be asking for a cockpit franchise for operator Marjorie Maraņon and not for the Mandurriao Cockpit Association, which has no juridical personality.

Espinosa said the City Government is empowered by the local government code to grant a regulated and specific franchise for only two franchisees on cockpit operation in a local government unit like Iloilo City.

The first cockpit franchise was already granted to Chito Tinsay of the Jaro Coliseum several years back and the second one will be granted exclusively to only one applicant. The franchise is also specific in the period of time for such grant in an existing population of 100,000.

Espinosa said a decision of the Supreme Court (SC) already confirmed the Philippine Cockfighting Law and if granted to applicant Maraņon, there is no more chance for other cockpit applicants to get a franchise.

Acap said he is positive the City Council will finally approve next week his proposal to have another cockpit operating legally in the district of Mandurriao. (Lydia C. Pendon